Leave it be for now. They should always be in a state of somewhat tangled together at your scalp. As they grow out, and the crossing of starts being part of the body of the lock, then rip them apart. it doesn't hurt. It's not as bad as it sounds.
I'll post a video in a bit about what I mean. Hopefully it'll clear some things up for you and everyone
There are youtube videos all over for how to make distilleries like that.
So, Rainbow pretty much answered everything, thanks.
Wash your hair as often as you want. More is better. If you feel dry, or itchy, or scratchy, wash it. As long as your hair dries completely between washes, it doesn't matter how often you do. Most baby locks enjoy between 2-3 times a week.
There are too many factors to give you a good estimate on how long the process takes. Eagle had some of his locks form within a week. Mine took over a year to look like anything other that a rats nest. How long your hair is, how you sleep, how often you wash.what with, what texture your hair is, how you dry your hair, etc.
The best thing to do is forget about the fist day you started. Actively try to forget ho old hey are. Don't celebrate their week/month/year birthday. The more you focus on how old they are, the long you wil just see yourself as someone-with-locks. If you don't pay attention to dates, and picture yourself as having locks, no matter what they look like now, time will move by faster, and you will be happy andsurprised by all the progress.
You will have to rip them apart. But not until they start to congo together. Most likely that fist few weeks won't show enough progress to need separating like that. But as the start sectioning off, and the sections grab hold of other sections, that when you want to pull them apart. And don't separate them all the way to the scalp. There has to be some sort of constant state of messiness at the root. This protects your scalp from sun damage. Just make sure the body of the locks are not tangled together.
For drying, don't rub your head with a towel. It's actually counter-productive
This is completely natural for many who start natural. And it's not even uncommon for starter methods too. Just switching what side of the bed you sleep on doesn't do it. I switch side of the the bed once in a while too. But I still tend to sleep most of the night on a certain side of my body.
That's what the real issue is. Most people who run into this situation tend to sleep on one side or the other. If you could find a way to sleep on the other side, it will balance itself out. If not, it's not a big deal. It'll lock up in time. Maybe a little slower, but it will. You could throw some beads over the sections on the side you want to speed up. But it's not necessary.
And, yeah, 1.5 months is nothing in the neglect world. It's not even much in the starter method world. They are still babies. If you are seeing progress at all, you should be thrilled
Congrats on it being healthy. It looks nice that colour.
I agree about getting what you needed out of your journey. I used to get high for years. 6 years ago (when I started growing my locks), I quite smoking weed. I got everything I needed from my time using it, and now I am done. The same could go for your locks. You learn a lo about yourself, and when you get what you need, you can stop.
Lifelong locks are not for everyone. It was your journey, and I hope it was an enjoyable one for you. If you ever want to go through it again, you're more than welcome
If they were thinner, they'd fit better under a helmet. I'm not into any sport other than paintball, and rock climbing, if you can call rockclimbinga sport. But I have super fat locks too, and have had issues like you're having. It's hard to get my paintball mask to feel right with the strap over the back of my head. I was also a cook, and had to wear a baseball cap for years before I finally got my argument recognized by corporate to let me wear a tam.
I understand your frustration. But as they grow out, if you haven't already begun taking them apart, there will always be a little bit of loose, straight hair but the root. This 1-2 inchs makes them feel much more comfortable under a helmet. Biotin can help speed up the growing process. I just started taking it and have seen a bit of difference already with it filling in a genetic bald spot.
Once they get to a certain length, they are much more comfortable, too.
But in the mean time, have you thought about wearing a silk, or anything shear, fabric around them as a wrap? This way, you can keep them down while you ride, and don't have to put them in a bun under your helmet. Plus a shear fabric will be smooth and feel cool on your neck so that you don't overheat.
I was a cook for 5 years. I started cooking when my locks were under a year old. So they were crazy and wild. If you have to look nicer, you can wear a plain black tam. It's simple and professional. Maybe your job could get you a patch to sew onto the front of it and make yourself a walking advertisement.
http://www.humanism.org.uk/campaigns/freedom-of-belief
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2003/1660/contents/made
.org sites are generally pretty reliable. .gov sites are absolutely reliable sources of info. So the first one should give you a good idea of your rights, and the second was a link provided by the first site. Read through it.
What job do you do? Are you growing you locks for their look, or for spiritual reasons? if you are growing them for spiritual purposes, you might need to check the laws in your area, but in the states, you don't have to do anything to clean them up. They are protected by the first amendment. No employer is allowed to not hire or fire you because of your locks. They can not force you to do anything to them, either.
Look into your laws. Get familiar, and stand up for yourself
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CEkQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dreadlockssite.com%2Fxn%2Fdetail%2F3754945%3AVideo%3A1313369%3Fxg_source%3Dactivity&ei=fIcqUIKjHcjn0QHj34D4Cg&usg=AFQjCNF227OiRi8JGqGbRvS8owOF1kTpRw&sig2=uX_8Ckn6N64JcNUjiof36g
His do look natural.
But, like Rainbow said, yours will probably not look just like his. It all depends on thousands of factors. How your hair naturally sections, How you wash, what with, how your sleep, and so on and so on.
Plus, looking at his locks, they are not done maturing yet. I'd say they are around 10 months. If he keeps separating them, thy will stay that skinny. But in a few months, they will thicken up and may start to congo together.
It's about how you separate them too. If you want skinny locks like that, just separate them more. But try to let them do their own thing first. If you mess with them to much, to get a certain look, you can mess them up and slow down the progress
